# LXX explained — The Painted Veil

> Chapter companion for The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

Kitty reflects on her lack of grief after Walter's death, feeling shame but also relief. She acknowledges she never loved him and is glad to be free from their unhappy marriage and from her degrading love for Townsend. She looks forward to leaving Hong Kong and embracing her newfound freedom.

## Themes in this chapter

### Self-Deception and Truth

Kitty resolves to stop lying to herself, acknowledging she never loved Walter and feels relief at his death.

### Suffering and Growth

Kitty's experiences in Mei-tan-fu have taught her to face her own feelings honestly, leading to a sense of liberation.

## Character check-ins

### Kitty Fane

Kitty grapples with her lack of sorrow over Walter's death and feels a liberating sense of freedom.

### Walter Fane

Walter's death is the central event of the chapter, prompting Kitty's reflections.

### Waddington

Waddington's shrewd demeanor makes Kitty feel he sees through her composed grief.

### Colonel Yü

Colonel Yü is noted to have wept at Walter's death, contrasting with Kitty's lack of tears.

### Charles Townsend

Kitty thinks of Townsend with contempt and considers telling him what a despicable creature he is.

## Key lines

> It seemed to her that this at least the last few weeks had taught her, that if it is necessary sometimes to lie to others it is always despicable to lie to oneself.

Kitty believes the past weeks have shown her that while lying to others may be necessary, lying to oneself is always contemptible.

_Kitty's moral awakening leads her to reject self-deception._

> Freedom! That was the thought that sung in her heart so that even though the future was so dim, it was iridescent like the mist over the river where the morning sun fell upon it.

The idea of freedom fills Kitty with joy, making her uncertain future seem beautiful and hopeful.

_Kitty embraces her liberation from marriage, love, and death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_painted_veil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters